"Women of the water sector, believe in your abilities, believe in your potential, work for the professional woman to be a development leader in this country." These words are from Lahcen Iderdar, the Director of Technical Departement of la Camerounaise des Eaux (CDE). He who in an address at the celebration on 8 March 2018 urged women to be more involved in their country’s development.

The International Women's Day was celebrated this year in Cameroon under the theme: "Intensify the fight against discrimination against women, strengthen partnership to accelerate sustainable development." It was an opportunity to take stock of progress made in the promotion of women's rights.

The situation is rather satisfactory at the CDE, as was observed by the Acting General Manager and the women's representative in their respective addresses. The concept of equal opportunities for men and women is respected in the choice of managers because qualification and competence prevail.

The speeches highlighted the many actions taken by the Executive Office to ensure that gender-based discrimination does not occur within the CDE. For instance, professions previously reserved for men are today exercised by women (reliever, inventory manager, head of distribution unit, engineer, director of engineering, etc.).

Moreover, the General Manager supported the establishment of the Water and Environment Women Professionals’ Association of Cameroon (AFPEEC), and reaffirmed his support for their actions as well as for those of other professional women’s associations, including the Association of CDE Secretaries.

The CDE women, through the voice of their representative, appealed that more women should be able to take up more leadership positions within the company in order to reach the 50-50 gender parity objective.

The President of the Water and Environment Women Professionals’ Association of Cameroon (AFPEEC), Geraldine Mpouma Logmo, also took the opportunity of this celebration to present the association’s goals and missions. She strongly urged CDE women to join the movement and become the women’s voice in the water sector.

A fitness walk and gastronomic event punctuated the week of activities organized as part of 8 March. CDE women massively took part in these activities.